1 Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction.

1 הָעִ֣זוּ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בִניָמִ֗ן¹ מִקֶּ֙רֶב֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּבִתְקֹ֙ועַ֙ תִּקְע֣וּ שֹׁופָ֔ר וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית הַכֶּ֖רֶם שְׂא֣וּ מַשְׂאֵ֑ת כִּ֥י רָעָ֛ה נִשְׁקְפָ֥ה מִצָּפֹ֖ון וְשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֹֽול׃

2 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.

2 הַנָּוָה֙ וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה דָּמִ֖יתִי בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

3 אֵלֶ֛יהָ יָבֹ֥אוּ רֹעִ֖ים וְעֶדְרֵיהֶ֑ם תָּקְע֨וּ עָלֶ֤יהָ אֹהָלִים֙ סָבִ֔יב רָע֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־יָדֹֽו׃

4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

4 קַדְּשׁ֤וּ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה ק֖וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם אֹ֥וי לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּי־פָנָ֣ה הַיֹּ֔ום כִּ֥י יִנָּט֖וּ צִלְלֵי־עָֽרֶב׃

5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

5 ק֚וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֣ה בַלָּ֔יְלָה וְנַשְׁחִ֖יתָה אַרְמְנֹותֶֽיהָ׃

6 For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

6 כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות כִּרְת֣וּ עֵצָ֔ה וְשִׁפְכ֥וּ עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם סֹלְלָ֑ה הִ֚יא הָעִ֣יר הָפְקַ֔ד כֻּלָּ֖הּ עֹ֥שֶׁק בְּקִרְבָּֽהּ׃

7 As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.

7 כְּהָקִ֥יר בְּוֵר בַּ֙יִר֙ מֵימֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֖ן הֵקֵ֣רָה רָעָתָ֑הּ חָמָ֣ס וָ֠שֹׁד יִשָּׁ֨מַע בָּ֧הּ עַל־פָּנַ֛י תָּמִ֖יד חֳלִ֥י וּמַכָּֽה׃

8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.

8 הִוָּסְרִי֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם פֶּן־תֵּקַ֥ע נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֵּ֑ךְ פֶּן־אֲשִׂימֵ֣ךְ שְׁמָמָ֔ה אֶ֖רֶץ לֹ֥וא נֹושָֽׁבָה׃

9 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again thy hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets.

9 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָאֹ֔ות עֹולֵ֛ל יְעֹולְל֥וּ כַגֶּ֖פֶן שְׁאֵרִ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָשֵׁב֙ יָדְךָ֔ כְּבֹוצֵ֖ר עַל־סַלְסִלֹּֽות׃

10 To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

10 עַל־מִ֨י אֲדַבְּרָ֤ה וְאָעִ֙ידָה֙ וְיִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הִנֵּה֙ עֲרֵלָ֣ה אָזְנָ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יוּכְל֖וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֑יב הִנֵּ֣ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֛ם לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לֹ֥א יַחְפְּצוּ־בֹֽו׃

11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah; I am weary with holding in: pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

11 וְאֵת֩ חֲמַ֨ת יְהוָ֤ה׀ מָלֵ֙אתִי֙ נִלְאֵ֣יתִי הָכִ֔יל שְׁפֹ֤ךְ עַל־עֹולָל֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְעַ֛ל סֹ֥וד בַּחוּרִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־גַם־אִ֤ישׁ עִם־אִשָּׁה֙ יִלָּכֵ֔דוּ זָקֵ֖ן עִם־מְלֵ֥א יָמִֽים׃

12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah.

12 וְנָסַ֤בּוּ בָֽתֵּיהֶם֙ לַאֲחֵרִ֔ים שָׂדֹ֥ות וְנָשִׁ֖ים יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־אַטֶּ֧ה אֶת־יָדִ֛י עַל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

13 כִּ֤י מִקְּטַנָּם֙ וְעַד־גְּדֹולָ֔ם כֻּלֹּ֖ו בֹּוצֵ֣עַ בָּ֑צַע וּמִנָּבִיא֙ וְעַד־כֹּהֵ֔ן כֻּלֹּ֖ו עֹ֥שֶׂה שָּֽׁקֶר׃

14 They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

14 וַֽיְרַפְּא֞וּ אֶת־שֶׁ֤בֶר עַמִּי֙ עַל־נְקַלָּ֔ה לֵאמֹ֖ר שָׁלֹ֣ום׀ שָׁלֹ֑ום וְאֵ֖ין שָׁלֹֽום׃

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.

15 הֹבִ֕ישׁוּ כִּ֥י תֹועֵבָ֖ה עָשׂ֑וּ גַּם־בֹּ֣ושׁ לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֗ושׁוּ גַּם־הַכְלִים֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ לָכֵ֞ן יִפְּל֧וּ בַנֹּפְלִ֛ים בְּעֵת־פְּקַדְתִּ֥ים יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

16 Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk `therein'.

16 כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה עִמְדוּ֩ עַל־דְּרָכִ֨ים וּרְא֜וּ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ׀ לִנְתִבֹ֣ות עֹולָ֗ם אֵי־זֶ֨ה דֶ֤רֶךְ הַטֹּוב֙ וּלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגֹּ֖ועַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נֵלֵֽךְ׃

17 And I set watchmen over you, `saying', Hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, We will not hearken.

17 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י עֲלֵיכֶם֙ צֹפִ֔ים הַקְשִׁ֖יבוּ לְקֹ֣ול שֹׁופָ֑ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַקְשִֽׁיב׃

18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

18 לָכֵ֖ן שִׁמְע֣וּ הַגֹּויִ֑ם וּדְעִ֥י עֵדָ֖ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽם׃

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

19 שִׁמְעִ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מֵבִ֥יא רָעָ֛ה אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה פְּרִ֣י מַחְשְׁבֹותָ֑ם כִּ֤י עַל־דְּבָרַי֙ לֹ֣א הִקְשִׁ֔יבוּ וְתֹורָתִ֖י וַיִּמְאֲסוּ־בָֽהּ׃

20 To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me.

20 לָמָּה־זֶּ֨ה לִ֤י לְבֹונָה֙ מִשְּׁבָ֣א תָבֹ֔וא וְקָנֶ֥ה הַטֹּ֖וב מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֶרְחָ֑ק עֹלֹֽותֵיכֶם֙ לֹ֣א לְרָצֹ֔ון וְזִבְחֵיכֶ֖ם לֹא־עָ֥רְבוּ לִֽי׃

21 Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.

21 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י נֹתֵ֛ן אֶל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים וְכָ֣שְׁלוּ בָ֠ם אָבֹ֨ות וּבָנִ֥ים יַחְדָּ֛ו שָׁכֵ֥ן וְרֵעֹ֖ו יֹאבֵדוּ וְאָבָֽדוּ׃

22 Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

22 כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנֵּ֛ה עַ֥ם בָּ֖א מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפֹ֑ון וְגֹ֣וי גָּדֹ֔ול יֵעֹ֖ור מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

23 They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion.

23 קֶ֣שֶׁת וְכִידֹ֞ון יַחֲזִ֗יקוּ אַכְזָרִ֥י הוּא֙ וְלֹ֣א יְרַחֵ֔מוּ קֹולָם֙ כַּיָּ֣ם יֶהֱמֶ֔ה וְעַל־סוּסִ֖ים יִרְכָּ֑בוּ עָר֗וּךְ כְּאִישׁ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עָלַ֖יִךְ בַּת־צִיֹּֽון׃

24 We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, `and' pangs as of a woman in travail.

24 שָׁמַ֥עְנוּ אֶת־שָׁמְעֹ֖ו רָפ֣וּ יָדֵ֑ינוּ צָרָה֙ הֶחֱזִיקַ֔תְנוּ חִ֖יל כַּיֹּולֵדָֽה׃

25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, `and' terror, are on every side.

25 אַל־ תֵּצְאִי תֵּֽצְאוּ֙ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּבַדֶּ֖רֶךְ אַל־ תֵּלֵכִי תֵּלֵ֑כוּ כִּ֚י חֶ֣רֶב לְאֹיֵ֔ב מָגֹ֖ור מִסָּבִֽיב׃

26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.

26 בַּת־עַמִּ֤י חִגְרִי־שָׂק֙ וְהִתְפַּלְּשִׁ֣י בָאֵ֔פֶר אֵ֤בֶל יָחִיד֙ עֲשִׂ֣י לָ֔ךְ מִסְפַּ֖ד תַּמְרוּרִ֑ים כִּ֣י פִתְאֹ֔ם יָבֹ֥א הַשֹּׁדֵ֖ד עָלֵֽינוּ׃

27 I have made thee a trier `and' a fortress among my people; that thou mayest know and try their way.

27 בָּחֹ֛ון נְתַתִּ֥יךָ בְעַמִּ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר וְתֵדַ֕ע וּבָחַנְתָּ֖ אֶת־דַּרְכָּֽם׃

28 They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.

28 כֻּלָּם֙ סָרֵ֣י סֹֽורְרִ֔ים הֹלְכֵ֥י רָכִ֖יל נְחֹ֣שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֑ל כֻּלָּ֥ם מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ים הֵֽמָּה׃

29 The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away.

29 נָחַ֣ר מַפֻּ֔חַ מֵאִשְׁתַּם מֵאֵ֖שׁ תַּ֣ם עֹפָ֑רֶת לַשָּׁוְא֙ צָרַ֣ף צָרֹ֔וף וְרָעִ֖ים לֹ֥א נִתָּֽקוּ׃

30 Refuse silver shall men them, because Jehovah hath rejected them.

30 כֶּ֣סֶף נִמְאָ֔ס קָרְא֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־מָאַ֥ס יְהוָ֖ה בָּהֶֽם׃